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MDrive34Plus Motion Control Hardware Revision R080106
Single Mode Communications Half Duplex (RS-485)
The MDrivePlus Motion Control can be operated in a 2 wire RS-485 communication bus. Before connecting the 2 wire
RS-485, download your program and setup instructions using the standard 4 wire RS-422 Communications Cable. If a
program is not being used, download and save any setup parameters. To ensure the MDrivePlus responds only to com-
mands specifically meant for it, set the unit in Party Mode (Please see Party Mode below). The Echo Mode command
(EM) must be set to the value of 1 (EM=1). This will set the MDrivePlus communication into “half duplex” mode. Con-
nect the driver in the 2 wire RS-485 configuration. The following diagram illustrates how to connect the MDrivePlus 4
wire RS-485 to operate as a 2 wire system.
Interfacing Party Mode Communications
In systems with multiple controllers it is necessary to communicate with the control modules using party mode
(PY=1). The MDrivePlus Motion Control nodes in the system are configured in software for this mode of operation
by setting the Party Flag (PY) to True (1). It is necessary for all of the nodes in a system to have this configuration
selected. When operating in party mode, each MDrive Motion Control in the system will need a unique address,
or name, to identify it in the system. This is accomplished by using the software command DN, or Device Name.
For example, to set the name of an MDrive to “A” you would use the following command: DN=65 or DN=”A” (65
is the ASCII decimal equivalent of uppercase A). The factory default name is “!”. The asterisk character “*” is used
to issue global commands to every device in the system. NOTE: When using the asterisk “*” in Party Mode, typed
entries and commands will not be echoed. See Appendix A of the Software Reference for ASCII table.
In setting up your system for party operation, the most practical approach is to observe the following steps:
1. Connect the first MDrivePlus Motion Control to the Host PC configured for Single Mode Operation.
2. Establish communications and download program if required.
3. Using the command DN, name the MDrivePlus Motion Control. This can be any upper or lower case ASCII
character or number 0-9. (DN=”A”{enter}) (Note: The quotation marks before and after the device name are
required.)
4. Set the party flag PY=1{enter}.
5. Press CTRL+J to activate the Party Mode.
6. Type the letters AS and press CTRL+J (Save device name and Party Mode).
7. Remove power.
8. Repeat steps 1 through 7 for each additional MDrive in the system.
9. After all MDrives are assigned a Device Name the Multiple MDrive Interface can be configured as shown in
the following figure.
Data Cable Termination Resistors
Figure 2.2.2: Half Duplex 2 Wire Communications (RS-485)
MDRIVE PLUS MOTION CONTROL
100
Ω
HOST
PC INTERF
ACE
2 Wire RS-485
Comm GND
B
A
RX-
RX+
TX-
TX+
10-PIN IDC
10-PIN
FRICTION LOCK
WIRE CRIMP
MDrive34Plus/Plus 2
CGND
Pin 4,10
Pin 1, 9
Pin 6, 7
Pin 3, 8
Pin 2
Pin 2, 8
Pin 1, 9
Pin 3, 6
Pin 4, 7
Pin 10
Summary of Contents for MDrive 34 Plus Series
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